[Sirrotica]

I also personally would not replace a Pontiac Stratostreak V8 in a car that came with one with an LS engine. I however cannot influence any other owners.

I formerly had a 97 TA with a LT1 and currently own an 05 GTO with an LS2. There is absolutely no comparison between the 2 engines and the LS2 is head and shoulders over the LT1. 120 more HP with only a displacement increase of 14 cubic inches over the LT1. 350 cubic inches 280 HP, Vs 364 cubic inches and 400 HP and 400 ft lbs of torque.

Having owned both engines in late model Pontiacs I have a direct comparison and there is little if anything to compare between the two.

The bowtie was used by GM as a marketing tactic because it was so recognizable. This information came from GM sources about the use of the bowtie. It was not indicating it was a chevy engine, but rather using public recognition of the bowtie for marketing purposes. While not saying the LS engines are chevy designs, GM is using the chevy racing heritage as a marketing ploy to push more product. Those are their trademarks so they are going to use them how they see fit to get maximum marketing from them.

Currently GM markets their LS engines as GM engines, and in recent advertisements I have no longer seen the bowtie used. I will not argue that early on there was some LS reference to a bowtie in the advertising, I believe that reference is no longer being used.

Since GM Powertrain now controls all of the engine manufacturing there is no doubt that the LS series is a true GM corporate engine from its inception to it being installed in GM cars as a finished product.

The engine is so versatile and well thought out there is no doubt that chevy owners want it to be a chevy design, it however had no input from the chevy division. The other thing that there is confusion over is that it is referenced as a small block, Gen III and Gen IV. Some people assume that if it's the successor of the chevy small block Gen I and Gen II that chevy is still making and designing it, not true.

Now for many years there are no longer any big blocks being installed in automobiles and if I'm not mistaken the big blocks have become extinct in GMC and chevy light trucks for about 10 years. 2009 was the final year it was available in a medium duty truck chassis. Now that the BB is only available in a crate engine, and not chassis installed, the LS series at this time is the only gasoline V8 that GM is using in cars and trucks.

It ranges from a 4.8 displacement to 7.2 displacement and in that regard it is similar to the Stratostreak engine being contained in the same external block dimensions. A 454 Cu. In. crate engine is the largest LS engine currently available and there has been talk of a taller deck block to increase the displacement further.

It is a well thought out engine and much simpler than some of the other competitors designs. GM drew from the best points of all their division engines and incorporated them into a pushrod V8 that has a huge potential as has already been demonstrated with results. The SBC is not the father of the LS engine, but there are ideas carried over from it, the same as other previous V8 designs from all GM divisions.

I've researched the LS engine and it's heritage fairly well and as far as I know the information I've given here is true to the best of my knowledge.